Is the Atraumatic Spinal Needle a Better Choice in Younger Patients? A Comparison of 25G Spinal Needles in a Group of General Surgical Patients Below 40 Years of Age

Introduction: One of the important spinal anesthesia complications is the occurrence of postdural puncture headache (PDPH). The incidence of PDPH is related to the age, the size and tip shape of the spinal needle used and the type of surgery. Incidence may vary depending on the type and size of needle. This study was conducted to compare the frequency of PDPH using different kind of spinal needles.Methods: Data of 81 patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for lower abdominal surgery were collected for the study. Patients were divided into three groups as Group Q (n = 27), Group P (n=27) and Group A (n = 27) according to the spinal needle used for spinal anesthesia. Headache incidences during five days period postoperatively were noted.Results: The overall incidence of PDPH in this young adult population was 13.6% (11 patients of 81). PDPB was encountered in 14.8%, 11.1% and 14.8% of patients in Groups A, Q and P, respectively.Conclusion: All spinal needles used in our study have the potential to lead to PDPH in young patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for lower abdominal surgery. We did not see any advantage of using 25G Atraumatic spinal needle in young patients.Introduction: One of the important spinal anesthesia complications is the occurrence of postdural puncture headache (PDPH). The incidence of PDPH is related to the age, the size and tip shape of the spinal needle used and the type of surgery. Incidence may vary depending on the type and size of needle. This study was conducted to compare the frequency of PDPH using different kind of spinal needles.Methods: Data of 81 patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for lower abdominal surgery were collected for the study. Patients were divided into three groups as Group Q (n = 27), Group P (n=27) and Group A (n = 27) according to the spinal needle used for spinal anesthesia. Headache incidences during five days period postoperatively were noted.Results: The overall incidence of PDPH in this young adult population was 13.6% (11 patients of 81). PDPB was encountered in 14.8%, 11.1% and 14.8% of patients in Groups A, Q and P, respectively.Conclusion: All spinal needles used in our study have the potential to lead to PDPH in young patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for lower abdominal surgery. We did not see any advantage of using 25G Atraumatic spinal needle in young patients